When in the Florida Keys with KeysCaribbean Luxury Resorts Villas and Marinas…..

The Keys are busy this time of year with many choices in activities! Stone Crab Season, Theater in Key West and musical performances and an Easter Egg Hunt Underwater!- among other activities- this weeks happenings in the Florida Keys!

The Florida Keys / October 15 – May 15

Stone Crab Season

Those succulent claws, brought to shore fresh daily from the waters surrounding the Florida Keys, will drip with mustard dip on the chins of hungry locals and visitors. A series of food festivals during the season celebrate the sustainable seafood resource throughout the Keys.

The Upper Keys:

In Key Largo and Islamorada, where KeysCaribbean Luxury Resorts and Marinas has two exclusive locations – Mariners Resort Villas & Marina and the Historic Tavernier Inn

The marine conservation foodie event is to be held at the Fish House Encore; designed for everyone who enjoys the Keys reefs, spotlights the importance of capturing lionfish and protecting the environment from these invasive reef fish. Participants can enjoy a four-course tapas-style meal paired with wines, lionfish education and information about cooking techniques. Encore’s Chef Peter is to demonstrate how to clean, fillet and prepare the delicious fish whose delicate white meat is likened to that of snapper, grouper and hogfish. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and reservations are required. Cost is $65 per person and includes dinner, wines, educational materials and a complimentary REEF Lionfish Cookbook.Contact: 305-451-0650

The History of Diving Museum at MM 83 continues the free, “Immerse Yourself!” series, to begin at 7 p.m., with a special event: “Creating Artificial Reefs: the Vandenberg, Mohawk & More,” presented by Joe Weatherby. REEFMAKERS- a for profit business- has been instrumental in the increase of diving tourism and the resulting economic growth of coastal communities through the creation of artificial reefs. Joe Weatherby, co-founder of REEFMAKERS, is to discuss their projects, past and present, including the Vandenberg Artificial Reef near Key West as well as the more recent sinking of the USS Mohawk off Florida’s southwest coast. The Museum is open daily from 10am-5pm. Extended hours on the night of the program until 7pm. Enjoy the Museum’s exhibits before the event.Contact: 305-664-9737Email:Courtney@divingmuseum.org

Showcasing the fine arts, music and culinary nuances of the Purple Isles, the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District features national and local artisans who are showcased in galleries at Morada Way between mile marker 81 and 82 – formerly named Industrial Road – as well as “culinary art” and live music from 5-9 p.m. In addition to individual artists, participating galleries include the Redbone Gallery, Gallery Morada, Pasta Pantaleo Signature Gallery and Bluewater Potters. Free admission. Art Walk is held the third Thursday of each month.Contact: Daniela Woody 305-664-9100Email:Daniela@MoradaWayArts.org

Presented by the Friends of Key Largo Cultural Center, Xavier Cortada, an artist in residence at FIU, is to discuss the importance of eco-art in education and the reforestation of coastal and urban areas. Free and open to the public, the popular Ocean Life Series runs from 6-8 p.m. at Murray E. Nelson Government and Cultural Center, 102050 Overseas Highway (MM 102). Meet and greet at 6 p.m., program begins 7 p.m.Contact: Linda Kaplan, 305-396-7000Email:linda@fklcc.org

Head to the Marathon Community Park for Classic Movie Night, a free show featuring Gone With the Wind, the 1939 epic historical romance. Movie event begins at 7 p.m., refreshments are to be available for purchase during the performance. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and make it a special movie night under the stars with Rhett and Scarlet.Contact: Charlotte Quinn 305-743-6598

The Lower Keys:

In the Lower Keys, KeysCaribbean Luxury Resorts and Marinas has the Coral Hammock Resort Villas and Kings Point Marina & Condominiums vacation rentals

Enjoy a fabulous tour of Key West…with a twist. A gay twist that is! Get a unique tour of Key West and learn about our colorful history that includes the famous and the infamous. Departs from the City Hall Parking Lot, located on the corner of Angela and Simonton. Tickets $25. Can be purchased ONLINE or at the trolley, our G&L Visitor Center (located at 513 Truman), and many of our distinguished gay and lesbian guest houses.

More than 40 species of fish are targeted during these months, with divisions for men, women, junior anglers (ages 10 to 14) and Pee Wees (under 10 years old). In an April kickoff event, anglers target 15 species and $5,000 in cash prizes is split between the top anglers.Contact: Rob Harris 305-295-6601Email:director@keywestfishingtournament.com

This engaging, humorous and eclectic evening of incredible music & song is back by popular demand. The Made in Key West Band features the exceptional talents of John Wells, Tom Murtha, Gary McDonald, George Halloran and adds the legendary Paul Cotton from the iconic rock band Poco. One week only. Visit website for show times and tickets.Contact: info@redbarntheatre.comEmail:305-296-9911

Presented by at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center at 35 East Quay Road in Key West. Starting at 10 a.m., the series of six hour-long films is produced by the World Ocean Observatory and Compass Light Films and highlights ocean climate, energy and biodiversity. They include “Ocean Day: The Copenhagen Climate Talks,” “Acid Test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification,” “Exploring Bloody Wall,” “Census of Marine Life: Approach & Findings,” “Ocean Energy Innovators” and “Dark Horizon,” with the last film scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Admission to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is free.

Big Pine & the Lower Keys / April 20

Free Kids’ Bridge Fishing Tournament

Hosted by Big Pine & Lower Keys Rotary Club and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, this free event is to be staged at the Old Wooden Bridge in Big Pine Key. Registration is from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and fishing is from 10 a.m. to noon. Food and awards follow. Free rod and reel fishing combo are given to each kid registered to keep. Prizes are awarded for Biggest Fish Boy and Girl in a variety of age categories.Contact: Susan Eanes 305-879-6824

Big Pine & the Lower Keys / April 20

18th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Bahia Honda State Park

The free family-friendly event features live music by various Keys favorites including the popular family band The Doerfels, a sand sculpture contest, fish printing, puppet shows, face painting, children’s games and marine touch tanks. Environmental exhibitions are to be presented by local groups including Marathon’s renowned Turtle Hospital, Pigeon Key, the Florida Keys Astronomy Club and many more. Bahia Honda’s pristine expanse of sandy beach has been ranked among the United States’ 10 best. One of the Florida Keys’ most popular camping and recreation areas, Bahia Honda offers deep near-shore waters for swimming and snorkeling as well as camping, picnicking, watersports, a marina and rental cabins. Located in the Lower Keys at mile marker (MM) 36.8; event is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information about Earth Day activities at the park, call the Bahia Honda Sand and Sea Nature Center.Contact: 305-872-9807

Key West / April 20

Expedition Florida 500 with Justin Riney

To commemorate 500 years of Florida history, Texas resident Justin Riney is circumnavigating the state’s coastlines and inland waterways by paddleboard. The solo waterman is leading a project called Expedition Florida 500 that is expected to journey through the Florida Keys until early May. Florida Keys XF500 land- and water-based events are open to the public, and enthusiasts are encouraged to participate with their own paddleboard or kayak. Participants are advised to bring a container or bucket for trash cleanups.
9-10 a.m. Ocean Hour Cleanup at Lazy Dog, MM 4.2 on Stock Island. Paddleboards are available for rent at Lazy Dog, located at the Hurricane Hole Marina.
10 a.m. – noon. Group paddle from Lazy Dog to Fort Zachary Taylor Park. Following the paddle until 3 p.m., an XF500 presentation and celebration is planned with supporters, families and visitors in the southernmost island of the team’s journey.
Spaces are limited for both activities, so participants are asked to RSVP with Lazy Dog.Contact: Lazy Dog 305-295-9898

Presented by the Florida Keys Eco Discovery Center, this family-friendly and educational series invites kids in kindergarten through fifth grade from 10-11 a.m. to play games and make crafts while learning about a new topic of interest and the marine ecosystems of the Keys. Discovery Saturday is held the third Saturday of every month. Pre-registration is recommended. The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is located at 35 East Quay Road on the Truman Annex waterfront in Key West. Admission is free and free parking is available.Contact: 305-809-4750

These are some of my favorite happenings this week and next in the Florida Keys. If you’re comig down to visit and stay with us at the KeysCaribbean Luxury Resorts & Marinas in our vacation rentals, share some of your favorite experiences with us …

Visit our blog next Monday with updated happenings in the Florida Keys…